Telegraph-key.



R. I. LEEF.

TBLEGBAPH KEY.

. v APPLICATION FILED APB. 30.1908. 91 6,727 Patented Mar. 3o, 1909;

ROBERT I. LEEF, OF ALHAMBRA, ILLINOIS.

TELE GRAIDI-I-KEY Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March so, 1909.

Application filed April 30, 1908. Serial No. 430 13.

To all whom 'it Imay concern:

Be it known that I, Iionnnfr I. Lann, a citizen oi' the United States ol' rimer-ica, residing at Alhambra, in the county o'l` Madison and State oi' Illinois7 havelinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Keys, olI which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that character o'l' telegra h keys at present in common use and it as for its object to provide improved means whereby the electrical circuits in the keys may be completed in the keys and remain completed while the keys are not bein used as transmitters.

Te egraph keys as heretofore made, have had incorporated therein a circuit make and break member and which has commonly been in they 'form of a shil'table bar adapted to make and break the connections between the two line-wire binding posts oi' the key.

" The use of a circuit make and break member oi the kind referred to is objectionable for the reason that telegraph operators not infrequently neglect to close the circuit through telegraph keys when they have completed the transmission o'll messages by the use of the keys, thereby leaving the key in a condition that renders it impossible for the operator to receive a message from another operator.

By the use of the device to which my present invention relates, I dispense with the use of the make and break member heretofore inuse and provide for the electrical circuit through the telegraph key being completed automatically immediately upon the operator releasing the button ot the key by the withdrawal of his ingers therefrom.

Figure I is a top or plan view o'l' my telegraph key. Fig. II is a side elevation of the key. Fig. III is a vertical cross section taken on line III-III, Fig. II.

1 designates the base of my key and 2 and 3 are the line-wire receiving binding posts fixed to said base. The 'former ot these binding posts is insulated from the base. The base is provided with the usual side posts 4 that receive the bearing screws 5 in which the spring controlled key bar G is pivotally; mounted. The key bar is provided with the usual contact point 7 located at its lower side and opposing the contact point 8 located above and insulated 'trom the base l. rihe contact point 8 is placed in electrical connection with the binding post 2 by a conductor 9. During the use ol' the telegraph key Vl'or the transmission ol' messages, an electrical circuit is completed each time the key bar is depressed 'l'roni the binding post 2 through the conductor 9, the contact point S, the contact point 7 ol' the key bar and through the key bar to the base l and the binding post 3, as is usual in telegraph keys.

To provide for the automatic closing ot the electrical circuit when the use of the key is discontinued as a transmitting instrument, I employ the device to be now described and to which my invention relates. This device consists of an arm l() that is located above the key bar 6 and is provided with one or more depending 'lingers 11 that are adapted to seat upon the conductor 9 or a part associated with it when the arm 10 is in a lowered position, thereby providing ior the completion of the electrical circuit :trom said conductor to the key bar when the contact points 7 and 8 of the key are separated from each other and the key is not being used as a transmitter. The arm 10 is provided with a lift piece 12 located at its forward end over the button 6 ol the key bar and it has included in it a hinge 13 that permits of the arm being elevated when the key bar button is to be grasped by the iingers of the operator to transmit a message. The arm also is preferably secured to the key bar 6 by a slotted leaf or attachment member 14 extending rearwardly from the hinO'e 13 which is preferably engaged by the adjustment screw mounted in the key bar and which is of service in regulating the degree of tension in the spring that controls the key bar.

In the practical use of my telegraph key the operator grasps the button of the key bar between the fingers of a hand in the usual manner to manipulate the key and in so doing introduces the 'finger that rests upon the key bar button beneath the lift piece of the arm l0 so that the iingers 11 ol said arm are withdrawn l'rom the conductor 9. The key may then be used for the transmission of a message during the sending of which the operators 'linger beneath the finger piece of the arm 10 acts to sustain said arm. When the operator completes the message and withdraws his iingers from the key bar button the arin 10 descends by gravity and his 'fingers 11, by descending into Contact with the conductor 9 act to complete the electrical circuit through the key and a ciirrentwvill pass from the binding post 2, through the conductor 9, the fingers 11 to the key bar 6 and from said key to the base l and binding post 3.

I claini:

1. The combination with a telegraph key having a conductor land a pivotally mounted key bar above said conductor and an adjustnient screw for said key bar of an arin located above said key and bar and having a finger piece at its outer end, means held by said adjustment screw to which said arm is ROBERT I. LEEF. In presence 0f- BLANCHE HOGAN, WM. H. SCOTT. 

